Latest news with #JakartaGlobe
Daily Express
11-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Poverty rate reduction 4.5pc by 2029
Published on: Sunday, May 11, 2025 Published on: Sun, May 11, 2025 By: Jakarta Globe Text Size: Currently, 24.8m people, or 8.7pc of Indonesia's population live in poverty. Maluku and Papua have the highest poverty rate while Kalimantan has the lowest and Java has the largest number of poor people. JAKARTA: President Prabowo Subianto aims to eliminate extreme poverty by 2026 and reduce Indonesia's overall poverty rate from 8.7 percent to 4.5 percent by the end of his tenure in 2029, according to Chief Community Empowerment Minister Muhaimin Iskandar. 'Currently, 24.8 million people, or 8.7 percent of our population, live in poverty. By 2029, this figure should not exceed 4.5 percent, and ideally, we can reduce it even further,' Muhaimin said after chairing a ministerial meeting on poverty reduction Friday. The meeting focused on concrete measures to address poverty, with Muhaimin stressing the need for synergy between ministries and agencies, particularly with Chief Human Development Minister Pratikno and 17 other institutions. 'These ministries and agencies will play a key role in executing the President's directives. We will move forward together with a coordinated strategy to tackle poverty and extreme poverty,' he added. A key instrument in this effort is the National Social and Economic Single Database (DTSEN), which Muhaimin said would be continuously validated to ensure accuracy and help direct aid to the right recipients. He cited the Housing Ministry's BSPS housing incentives and housing subsidy programs as examples of initiatives that rely on accurate data to ensure aid reaches those who need it most. Housing Minister Maruarar Sirait welcomed the initiative, saying that reliable data is crucial for effectively implementing government programs. 'We can now proceed with BSPS and housing subsidies as directed by President Prabowo, ensuring precise targeting,' Maruarar said. He said the database would prevent misallocation of aid, ensuring only those in need receive assistance. 'This data is crucial to prevent situations where the wealthy benefit while the poor are left out,' he added. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia's poverty rate fell to 8.57 percent in September 2024, the lowest level since poverty data was first recorded in 1960. This marks a 0.46 percentage point decline from March 2024 and a 0.79 percentage point drop from the previous year. The decrease was driven by strong economic growth, with the country's GDP expanding by 5.35 percent in the third quarter of 2024. As of September 2024, the poverty line was set at Rp 595,242 ($36.5) per capita per month, with rice, cigarettes, housing, and fuel contributing the most to household expenses. Maluku and Papua had the highest poverty rate at 18.62 percent, while Kalimantan had the lowest at 5.3 percent. However, Java had the largest number of poor people, with 12.62 million living in poverty, while Kalimantan had the fewest at 0.91 million. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
No public transport, no promotion: Jakarta civil servants forced to ditch their wheels to work
Civil servants are expected to share their proof of compliance in the form of selfies. PHOTO: REUTERS No public transport, no promotion: Jakarta civil servants forced to ditch their wheels to work JAKARTA - Civil servants in Indonesia's capital city must take the public transport to work on Wednesdays , or risk a promotion. The order that kicked in on April 30 is part of a policy introduced by Jakarta governor Pramono Anung aimed at reducing traffic congestion and air pollution - two major issues plaguing the city. 'For anyone who violates this policy while I'm in charge for at least the next five years, don't expect a promotion,' Mr Pramono was quoted as saying by Jakarta Globe on May 8. 'We want this to become not just an order but a new lifestyle for employees. Public transportation is the future of Jakarta.' The Governor's Instruction Number 6 of 2025 on the Use of Mass Public Transportation for Employees within the Jakarta Provincial Government was signed on April 23 . Civil servants are expected to share their proof of compliance in the form of selfies. Mr Pramono warned that those who arrive at their office in a private vehicle will not be allowed to park . They will be removed from the office premises, and will be considered absent from work, reported Tempo . However, exceptions are granted for workers with special conditions, such as pregnant women. The Jakarta government h as also disallowed the use of regional government-owned vehicles for civil servants on Wednesdays. When the policy came into effect on April 30 , road barriers and traffic cones were reportedly used to restrict access of private vehicles into the J akarta City Hal l. High compliance rate despite criticisms Mr Pramono said he noted a positive response from civil servants, with some sharing their commuting experiences online and tagging him in their posts. 'On average, they welcomed it with high enthusiasm,' he r eportedly said on April 30. According to Mr Pramono , the policy applies to 65,000 workers - comprising 45,000 regular civil servants and 20,000 contract workers - 96 per cent of whom complied on the first day. The number of public transport users jumped that day, with city-owned rapid transit bus service TransJakarta reportedly seeing 1.4 million passengers on April 30, up from the usual 1.2 million travellers. Among the travellers were Mr Pramono, who took a bus from his official residence in Taman Suropati to Jakarta City Hall. Local media had earlier reported him as saying he does not commute to work using public transportation as he lives nearby. Despite the high compliance rate, criticism had emerged online after the policy was announced. One netizen said that while the policy may be a solution to the traffic congestion in the city, it does not take into consideration the commute for civil servants who live on the outskirts of Jakarta. 'For those whose house is far (from the office), it'll be difficult because they need (to take several types of) transportation since there is no public transportation from their homes,' said another. Others suggested the government implement a carpooling or transport service purely for civil servants to take them to the office. According to Tempo , Mr Pramono said in a written statement on April 24 that public transportation connectivity within the metropolitan area has reached 91 per cent, and that civil servants will soon be able to use public transportation services for free. In 2024 , the Global Traffic Scorecard ranked Jakarta the seventh most congested city in the world. Jakarta also snagged the title of the most polluted city in the world in 2023, according to Swiss air quality technology company IQAir. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Daily Express
04-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
US44b for education but ‘some schools only have one toilet'
Published on: Sunday, May 04, 2025 Published on: Sun, May 04, 2025 By: Jakarta Globe Text Size: Prabowo delivers his National Education Day speech at an elementary school in Bogor May 2. JAKARTA: President Prabowo Subianto revealed Friday that the government had allocated a record-breaking education budget, but the money was not going to the right people as some schools were still in poor condition with all its students even having to share one toilet. May 2 marks the National Education Day. Indonesia is trying to improve its human capital, among others, by having a multibillion-dollar nutrient-rich meal program. The country's curriculum also keeps on changing in hopes it will finally meet what the industry needs. But there are other things that Indonesia needs to pay attention to, namely the state of the school's physical infrastructure and facilities. In his National Education Day speech, Prabowo revealed that countless schools in the country were in bad shape despite the big education budget. For the 2025 fiscal year, Indonesia has set aside Rp 724.3 trillion ($44 billion) for the education sector. Southeast Asia's largest economy had allocated Rp 665 trillion in education spending for 2024. Over the past decades, the government has earmarked about 20 percent of its annual budget for education as mandated by the constitution. Parts of the money also go to renovating schools. 'The current education budget is the highest-ever in Indonesian history, about 22 percent of our state budget. … Education will determine whether Indonesia will be a poor nation or grow into a country that can provide a better life for its people,' Prabowo said at an elementary school in Bogor. 'But let us ask ourselves, has all that money we spent [on education] over the years already gone to the right 'addresses'? Many schools are damaged even though we know that the money [for the renovations] is there. And how come there is only one toilet?' Prabowo alluded that the money could have been lost to corruption as he urged his government officials to make sure that the designated budget must go into school renovations, as it should be. Indonesia is known to have been grappling with entrenched corruption. It scored 37 out of 100 points on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index. A score of 0 indicates a highly corrupt country, while 100 means that it is very clean. The government plans to spend around Rp 16.9 trillion on school renovations for this year alone. Prabowo admitted that this was far from enough if Indonesia wanted to fix its school buildings. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
South China Morning Post
01-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Indonesian city considers China-style boot camps after youth crime surge
An Indonesian politician has proposed China-inspired military rehabilitation for youth facing difficulties amid an increase in juvenile delinquency in his area. Advertisement West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi said his idea of a voluntary military-style discipline programme in Depok city was inspired by China's youth reformation model, according to English-language newspaper Jakarta Globe. According to the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, mainland China mandates education and rehabilitation for misbehaving children in special correctional schools. This approach aims to tackle underlying issues like family dynamics and the school environment. Individuals aged 13 to 28 who commit minor offences may be placed in reformatories or work-study schools, focusing on education and vocational training. Some Chinese parents also enrol their children in camps that emphasise character development and provide military training Advertisement 'I've seen how China uses this method. The results are that children are more energetic, optimistic, and have a clear direction in life. This could be part of our future,' Mulyadi said on Friday.
CNA
23-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Indonesia's proposal to name late President Suharto a national hero sparks discussion, backlash
But some scholars argue that Suharto – who died in 2008 at the age of 86 – meets the formal requirements to be conferred the title of national hero. University of Gadjah Mada historian Agus Suwignyo said the former president played a key role in Indonesia's fight for independence, notably by leading the 1949 General Offensive that took back Yogyakarta, and overseeing the 1962 effort to regain control of West Papua. 'Suharto fits the formal criteria, but the full historical context must be considered,' Agus said, as quoted by Jakarta Globe. Under the Social Affairs Ministerial Regulation No. 15 of 2012 concerning the Proposal for the Conferment of the Title of National Hero, a person who is nominated for the title must fulfil several general and specific requirements. Some criteria that must be fulfilled include making a real contribution as a leader or fighter and never betraying the nation, Tempo reported. However, historian Agus warned against viewing history in black and white. 'You can't ignore his role in independence, but you also can't ignore controversies, around 1965, " he said, referring to Suharto's rise to power that was marked by the deadly anti-communist purges. Amid the controversy, Minister of State Secretariat and presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi has also weighed in. 'It is only appropriate for us to show respect to our former presidents. Let's not constantly dwell on their flaws, let's acknowledge their achievements,' he told reporters at the Presidential Palace on Monday, as quoted by Tempo. On Suharto's corruption, Prasetyo said that there is no perfect leader. This is not the first time Indonesia has considered naming Suharto a national hero. Since 2010, his name has been regularly seen on the list of national hero nominees from Central Java, the Jakarta Post reported. Suharto's second daughter Siti Hediati Hariyadi, also known as Titiek Soeharto, has welcomed the proposal this year to confer the title on her late father. Titiek, who is the former wife of current President Prabowo Subianto, said that the family has never actively lobbied for the title despite the topic frequently surfacing in public discourse around National Heroes Day on Nov 10. 'It comes up every year. Whether or not it happens, he remains a hero (to) us,' she said, as quoted by Jakarta Globe. She also expressed hope it would finally materialise under Prabowo's administration. The Social Affairs Ministry has received 10 nominations so far, including late former president Abdurrahman Wahid, also known as Gus Dur. Individuals who have been conferred the title include Indonesia's first president Sukarno and his vice-president Mohammed Hatta.
